Tongue-support



(NoModel.) V f J. S. FAULKNER.

TONGUE SUPPORT.

. NHE STATES i rrrcn JOHN S. FAULKNER, OE BAY VIEW, WISCONSIN.

TNGUE-SUPPORT.

SPEGIFICALION forming part,of Lettrs Iatent No. 510,249, daced December 5, 1893.

Application filed July 24,1893J Seriall\To. 431,259. (Nomodel.)

T0 au whom it may ooncrn:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. FAULKNER,Of Bay View,.in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tongue-Supports, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

1WIy invention bas relation to improvements in tongue-supports.

In theaccompanyingdrawingslhaveshown the improved device in connection with agrading machine, to which it is particnlarly, although not necessarily, adaptable.

The object of the invention is to relieve the animal of the weight of the pole and vehicle, and to prevent injury to the horses shoulders and neck by reason of the tendenc v of the tongue t0 rise and fall as the machine passes over rough and uneven ground.

In the employment of a grading machine of the style illustrated in the drawings, I have found by experienoe that the above pointed out disadvantage exists t0 a great extent, owing not only to the uneven character of the ground over which the machine necessarily traverses, but also to the frequent adjnstmonts of the body of the machine to difierent inclinations, said body, in Figure 1, being shown in the position at which it is left immediately after the dumping operation, and .af-

ter completion of its work.

To attain the object above set forth I have provided the support which will now be fnlly described and set forth.

Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a form of grading machine, showing myimproved support secured to the tongue thereof. Fig. 2, is an enlarged elevation of a fragment of the tongue, with the device properly applied, certain parts being in Section for clearer illustration; and Fig. 3, is a plan view of a portion of thespring plate, showing the shaft passing through the forward end of the same, and also the collar bolted to said forward end.

Like numerals of reference denote like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a form of grading machine in connection with which I prefer t0 employ my invention. As this machineis a common form of construction, and constitutes ne part of my invention, a detail description of the same is unnecessary.

About centrally through an aperture in the tonuue 2 of the machine passes vertically a shaft 3, adapted to rotate freely in said aperture. At the upper threaded end of the shaft are located a nutand washer, 4 and 5 respectively, which tend to limil the upward move- 6o ment of the tongue. Medially of the shaft is formeda shoulder or enlargement 6, and from the lower end of this shoulder or enlargement extends a bifurcated portion forming arms 7,

7, which constitute bearings for a short shaft 8, on which shaft a caster-wheel 9 turns.

The numeral 10 indicates a fiat metallic spring, the rear end of which is secured to the under side of the tongue by means of bolts 11, 11. This spring plate is preferably of an ogee form, and atits forward end is provided with an aperture to receive the shaft 3, said forward end norn1ally resting upon the enlargement or shoulder 6. Upon the shaft is also arranged a-collar 12, provided with an 7 annular fiange 13, said flange secured to the top of the spring plate by means of bolts 14. The collar serves the purpose of reintorcing or strengthening'the spring plate at the point where it is subjected to the greatest strain or wear, and is preferable over enlarging the end 'of the plate for the same purpose, inasmuch as the formation of a thickened or enlarged surface directly on the plate would materially increase the cost. This collar also 8 5 serves as a scat for the lower end of a coiled spring 15, encircling the shaft, the upperend of said coiled spring bearing against a plate or Wa'sher 16, secured beneath the tongue.

In operation, if the machine, in its travel, passes over uneven or rough ground, or meets with obstructions in the road-bed, the yielding character of the spring will enable the caster-wheel .to accommodate itself to such nnevenness, and thus t0 a great extent limit 5 the movementof the tongue, and prevent th strain and pull which would otherWise occur on the shoulders and neck of the animal. The fact also that the fnlcrum point is about the centerof the tonge Will of necessity permit of but very lit-tle movement ofsaid tongue.

As the coiled spring 15 is supported or held up to place by the plate 10, and as said plate is of a spring metal, it also Will yield with the nneven charaetar of the road. By employing a easter-wheel journaled in the bifurcatad arms of the shaft 3 very 1ittle strain on the spring plate 10 is produced, when the machine is turned.

Having thus dascribed my invention, what I daim, and desire to secnre by Lattars Pateut, is

1. In a tongne support, the combination, of a spring plate sacured to the tongna, a shaft; passing loosely throngh said tongua and the forward and of the plate, so as to be rotatable and vartically movable therein said shaft having a wheel journalad in its 1ower and, and a colad spring encircling the shaft betwaan the Spring plate and the tongua, substantially as set forth.

2. In a tongue support, the combination, of a tongue,a spring plate secured thareto, a rainforcing collar seeurad to the forward and of the spring plate, a shafta passing loosely throngh the plate, collar and tangue, so as to be rotatable and verticallymovable tharein, sad shaft having a wheel journaled in its lower and, and a coled spring encrcling the shaft between the collar and tongne, substantially as set; forth.

3. In a tongue support, the combination, of a tongne, a plate secnred thereto, a rainforcing collar secnrad to the forward and of the plate, a shaft passing loosely throngh the plate, collar and tongne, so as to be rotatabla and vertically movabla tharain, sad shaft provded upon its uppar and with a stop, medially with an anlargement or shoulder, and havng its lowar and bifurcatad, a castar -wheel jonrnalad in the lowar bifurcated portion, and a coiled spring encireling the shaft between the collar and Longue, and adapted to normally hold the forward and of the spring against the shoulder or enlargamenn, substautially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. FAULKNER. \Vitnassasz ARTHUR L. MORSELL, O. T. BENEDICT. 

